By Marina Veccia
Do you want to visit The Lake District in Patagonia? Bariloche is a wonderful place to start your trip to the Patagonia Argentina. Bariloche is the hub to travel to different spots in the Lakes District within the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Officially is called San Carlos de Bariloche and is in the Rio Negro province right on the edge of Nahuel Huapi Lake. It is the most populated city in the Patagonian Andes and one of the most visited in the Patagonia region.
Bariloche is all about nature. Regardless of the season you visit, you will always find beautiful scenery and plenty of things to do in the city and its surroundings. It is known for its stunning landscapes of forests with snowy mountains and pristine lakes.
The Bariloche airport is fourteen kilometers away from downtown. The city center here is called the Civic Center and is where you can find every important building and shop. Bariloche extends along its main avenue: Avenida Bustillo which honors the great architect, Ezequiel Bustillo, whose art can be seen in many sites, for example, the Cathedral, built in stone in neogothic style is found a few blocks away from downtown, and near the coast. Also, the Llao Llao luxury hotel and the chapel close to it, the Capilla San Eduardo were designed by the artist.
Avenida Bustillo, it starts downtown in the Civic Centre and ends in Puerto Pañuelo, near the Llao Llao Hotel. Except for the Cathedral, all the other locations are part of the Circuito Chico (Short Circuit) itinerary where you can catch sight of the major tourist spots. The Civic Centre is the busiest square in town. The buildings that surround it are the Municipalidad (the local government building), the post office, the library, the police department, and the Museo de la Patagonia (Patagonian Museum). All of them were built in the typical alpine architecture made from native woods and stones. This site has been a National Historic Monument since 1987.
It is strongly recommended that you walk downtown´s Bariloche main streets. You can start on Mitre Street and Moreno Street where the relevant shops are located. And here is an interesting fact: if you are a chocolate lover, this is the place to be. Bariloche is known for its thriving chocolate industry. There are plenty of stores where you can buy a wide variety of them including the chocolate en rama, one of the most popular. In one of these, you will have the chance to go ice skating aside from tasting delicious cakes and ice cream. During the Easter holidays, you can experience the Chocolate Fest, where the biggest chocolate bar is made by master chocolate makers.
Besides chocolate, Bariloche is also known for its breweries. The quality of the ingredients used in the production and the water here is one of the reasons why the beer has been internationally recognized for its great flavor. There are plenty of options where you can try different types of beer: breweries with big production that distribute throughout the country and smaller ones, microbreweries, that sell locally. All of them offer great gastronomy that combines perfectly well with your drink.
Bariloche can be experienced throughout the year, each season offers unique activities to enjoy. Despite that, bear in mind that the weather here can change all the time. Even if you visit during the summer, you should always bring warm clothing. The weather can be cool, mostly at night. During the winter is recommended to wear three layers of clothing. Temperature can get as down as -10 degrees.
Bariloche Summer
This is the best time to get to Bariloche and enjoy the captivating scenery. The ideal time of the year to practice outdoor sports such as biking, horse riding, paragliding, and, in particular, hiking since snow is gone. During the summer you will experience longer days and the highest temperatures, which could get as high as 35 degrees, which will allow you to go for a swim in the lake. Some of the most beautiful beaches are Playa Bonita and Playa Serena. This is also the best time to go birdwatching and see the magnificent condor in the Patagonian sky.
Bariloche Winter
If you like winter and winter sports, then this is the best time to visit Bariloche. The city is well known for being the biggest skiing destination in South America. Cerro Catedral is its main ski resort and offers 230 kilometers of runs. The ideal time to enjoy the snowy mountains is from July to October where you can practice a variety of snow sports such as snowboarding, skiing, and sliding. Other activities that can be experienced during the winter include walking on snowshoes and 4×4 adventures.
Bariloche Autumn
This season is to experience the enchanting changing colors of the trees. This is a unique opportunity to take magnificent photos. You will see shades of brown, yellow, red, and purple. On the downside, this is the rainy season, so get ready for frequent rain showers.
Bariloche Spring
If you visit during the early spring snow might not be fully gone yet. However, the temperature starts rising and you will get more daylight to enjoy outdoor activities. Landscape changes, flowers bloom, and days are warmer, so late spring is a good time to visit Bariloche and enjoy it at its most.
Choose your favorite season and come visit!
Visit The Lake District with us! We create taylor made travel itineraries in Argentina and Chile. We would love to help you plan your trip. Take a look to our itineraries in Bariloche:
Buenos Aires and Patagonia Argentina, Patagonia and Mythical Route 40
